Shoe last



Nov. 19, 1935, g, KURLAN 2,021,258

SHOE LAST Original Filed June 25, 1952 Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFHQE SHOE LAST Sidney Kurlan,

Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Divided and this application June 18,1934, Serial No. 731,173

4 Claims. (Cl. 12-136) The invention relates to shoe lasts and is adivision of an application filed by me June 23, 1932, Serial No.618,982.

The object of the present invention is to im- 5 prove the constructionof hollow metal lasts which are divided transversely into front and rearsections hinged together at their adjacent ends, more especially toimprove the construction of the hinge joint for connecting the sectionsand to provide a simple, strong, practical,

sturdy hinge joint composed of interfitting bearing lugs and bearingrecesses presenting broad bearing surfaces to each other with the lugsprovided with means for preventing lateral shifting of the sections.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hinge joint of thischaracter having solid imperforate lugs adapted to eliminate entirelythe transverse pivot ordinarily employed for connecting the front andrear sections of a last and provide an open unobstructed space betweenthe bearing lugs to facilitate the installation and operation of lockingmeans for locking the sections of the lugs in position for lastingoperations.

It is also an object of the invention to provide the last sections withabutting shoulders located below the bearing lugs and recesses andadapted to support the rear or heel section of the last at the desiredelevation and capable of being readily trimmed for effecting anadjustment of the rear section for providing the proper heel height.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterfully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and pointed outin the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changesin the form, proportion and minor details of construction, within thescope of the claims, may be resorted to Without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing:-

Figure l is a side elevation of a metal last constructed in accordancewith this invention and showing the same after it has been turned inaccordance with the method of the aforesaid application but prior to theremoval of the terminal lugs.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the completed last.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated the preferredembodiment of the invention I designates a hollow metal sectional lastpreferably constructed of the magnesium alloy described in saidapplication but the last may be made of any other suitable material.

As explained in the aforesaid application in 5 the manufacture of thelast a magnesium alloy block is cast with terminal lugs or portions 2and 3 which enable it to be held in a lathe and which are trimmed offafter the last has been shaped in a shoe turning machine or profilemachine the 10 same as a shoe last made of wood. In Fig. 1 of thedrawing the last is shown after it has been turned and prior to theremoval of the terminal lugs 2 and 3 while in Fig. 2 the terminal lugshave been trimmed off and the last completed. 15

The hollow metal shoe last is composed of hinged front and rear sections4 and 5 which are formed by cutting the hollow block of magnesiumtransversely into the two sections 4 and 5 with hearing recesses 6 andbearing lugs l at the 20 lower portions of their adjacent ends to form ahinge joint or connection to enable the last to break in the usualmanner. The bearing recesses 5 have wide transversely disposed bearingsurfaces which are partially formed by webs or 25 flanges 6 and 6projecting inwardly from the inner faces of the side walls of the hollowfront last section 4. The side walls of the hollow rear last section 5are thickened at their front ends atthe said bearing lugs I to increasethe length of 30 the lugs transversely of the last for providing widebearing surfaces. The lugs are imperforate and are spaced apart toprovide an entirely open space between the hinge joints at the oppositesides of the last to facilitate installation and 35 operation ofsuitable locking means for locking the sections in position for lastingoperations in the use of the last.

The sections 4 and 5 are provided below the bearing recesses 6 and.bearing lugs with abutting shoulders B and 9 which limit the swingingmovement of the sections on each other in one direction and whichsupport the heel portion of the rear section at the desired elevationwhen the sections are locked in operative position in the usual manner.

Any suitable means may, of course, be employed for locking the sectionsand for permitting the sections to break and the front section isprovided at the inner faces of its side walls with 50 interior bossesill for the attachment of such locking means.

The recesses B and the lugs 1 form contacting bearing faces and the lugswhich extend inward laterally beyond the bearing faces of the bearing 55recesses and beyond the edges of the flanges 8 and E3 are provided attheir inner ends with flanges El extending beyond the walls of thebearing recesses and engaging the said flanges 6 and 6 interior-1y ofthe hollow front section 4 to prevent any relative lateral movement ofthe front and rear sections 4 and 5. Instead of forming the front andrear sections from a single block it will be obvious that the sectionsmay if desired be cast separately to form a rough blank to be placed ina lathe for shaping the last.

When the last is removed from the lathe or other woodworking or lastturning machine it is in the form illustrated in Fig. l of the drawingwith the terminal portions or lugs 2 and 3, after which these terminalportions or lugs are trimmed off and the last is completed in itsfinished form as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The sections 4and 5 of the shoe last are rigidly locked in fixed relation to eachother while the last is being shaped in a last turning machine by themeans shown and described in the said application, the adjusting screwES of which appears in Fig. l of the drawing. As this locking means doesnot constitute a portion of the present invention specific descriptionand illustration thereof are deemed unnecessary in the presentapplication.

Any style or form of last may be constructed in approximately the shapeof a shoe last and then shaped to the exact form or style of shoe lastdesired and while it is preferred to make the last of the magnesiumalloy of the said application other metals may be employed in theconstruction of the last. A magnesium alloy shoe last is much lighterthan aluminum and sub stantially as strong as mild steel and it is notaffected by heat or dampness and can be applied Without fear ofshrinkage, expansion and swelling or checking and it will preserve itsspecific contour and exact dimensions indefinitely, also it will beclear that with the hollow magnesium alloy shoe last a heating elementmay be provided interiorly of the last for applying heat to the same, orthe application of heat may be made to the last exteriorly thereofwithout injuring the last or in anywise affecting the contour andimensions of the same.

What is claimed is:-

l. A shoe last comprising front and rear hollow sections provided attheir adjacent ends with interfltting bearing recesses and bearing lugspresenting broad bearing surfaces, the section having the bearingrecesses being provided at the inner faces of its side walls withlaterally projecting flanges forming portions of the' bearing surfacesof the recesses and increasing the area of the same, the bearing lugsbeing spaced apart at their inner ends to provide an uninterrupted openspace between the said inner ends of the lugs to facilitate theintroduction and operation position for use.

2. A metal shoe last comprising front and rear hollow sections providedat their adjacent ends with interfitting bearing recesses presenting relatively broad bearing surfaces, the section having the bearing recessesbeing provided at the inner faces of its side Walls with laterallyprojecting flanges forming portions of the bearing surfaces of therecesses and increasing the area of the same and the bearing lugs beingsolid and imperforate and spaced apart to provide a centraluninterrupted open space between the bearing lugs to facilitate theintroduction and operation of locking means for locking the sections inoperative position for lasting operations, the lugs being provided attheir inner ends with flanges projecting laterally of the lugs andengaging the flanges of the bearing recesses and arranged to hold thesections of the last against lateral shifting.

3. A metal shoe last comprising front and rear hollow sections providedat their adjacent ends with interfitting bearing recesses and bearinglugs presenting broad bearing surfaces, the bearing lugs being solid andimperforate and spaced apart at their inner ends to provide anuninterrupted open space between the said inner ends of the lugs tofacilitate the introduction and operation of locking means for lockingthe sections in position for use, and bosses formed integral with theside walls of the front section of the last and located in advance ofthe bearing recesses and lugs for the attachment of locking means forholding the sections rigid with each other for lasting operations.

4. A metal shoe last comprising front and rear hollow sections providedat their adjacent ends with interfitting bearing recesses presenting relatively broad bearing surfaces, the section having the bearing recessesbeing provided at the inner faces of its side walls with laterallyprojecting flanges forming portions of the bearing surfaces of therecesses and increasing the area of the same and the bearing lugs beingsolid and imperforate and spaced apart to provide a centraluninterrupted open space between the bearing lugs to facilitate theintroduction and operation of locking means for locking the sections inoperative position for lasting operations, the lugs being provided attheir inner ends with flanges projecting laterally of the lugs andengaging the flanges of the bearing recesses and arranged to hold thesections of the last against lateral shifting, and bosses formedintegral with the side walls of the front section of the last andlocated in advance of the bearing recesses and lugs for the attachmentof locking means for holding the sections rigid with each other forlasting operations.

SIDNEY KURLAN.

